You’ve seen the glossy shots on Instagram. A perfectly backlit king bed, a floor-to-ceiling window, and the iconic lions of the New York Public Library staring back at you from across the street. But honestly, Andaz 5th Avenue photos rarely capture the actual physics of being in these rooms. Most Midtown hotels feel like expensive closets where you’re paying for the privilege of hearing your neighbor sneeze. The Andaz is different. It’s built into the old Tommy Hilfiger headquarters, which means the ceilings are roughly 12 feet high.
It feels more like a SoHo loft than a corporate bunk.
If you’re hunting for that "quintessential New York" shot, you’ve basically found the jackpot. But there is a strategy to getting the best photos here that most tourists completely miss. It isn’t just about pointing and clicking at the library; it’s about the light, the specific room numbers, and the weird little architectural quirks that designer Tony Chi baked into the building.
The Secret to Nailing Your Andaz 5th Avenue Photos
The library view is the heavy hitter. Everyone wants it. The New York Public Library’s Stephen A. Schwarzman Building is a Beaux-Arts masterpiece, and it sits right outside the window. To get the best Andaz 5th Avenue photos of this landmark, you need to be on a mid-level floor.
Go too high, and you’re looking at the roof. Go too low, and you’re just seeing the tops of yellow cabs.
Why the "Wellness Suite" Is the Real MVP
While the standard suites get all the love, the Wellness Suites are the sleepers. They have a direct, unobstructed line of sight to the Empire State Building. If you’re shooting at night, the way the LED lights of the Empire State reflect off the minimalist wood surfaces in these rooms is incredible. You don't need a filter. The room basically acts as a giant light box.
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- Golden Hour: The sun sets behind the hotel, which means the library across the street gets hit with direct, warm light in the late afternoon. This is when the white marble of the library starts to glow.
- The Bathroom Mirror: It sounds weird, but the bathrooms here are carved from honed stone and have these massive, flattering mirrors. It’s a favorite for "getting ready" shots because the lighting is designed to be soft rather than clinical.
- The Staircase: There’s a dramatic staircase leading down to The Bar Downstairs and Kitchen. It’s illuminated by a permanent neon rose installation by artist Edward Granger. It’s moody, it’s red, and it’s the perfect spot for a long-exposure shot if you want that "underground NYC" vibe.
Architecture That Actually Matters
Tony Chi didn't just pick out some nice chairs. He used a "New York quiet" design philosophy. The walls are thick. The windows are heavy. This matters for your photos because you aren't fighting the glare of a million tiny panes of glass. Most rooms feature massive, single-pane windows that make the city look like a 4K television.
Honestly, the "Library View" rooms (specifically those ending in 06, like 1106) are the ones that make people think you’ve rented a private apartment. There’s a specific "loft" feel because of the lack of clutter. You won't find bulky dressers or unnecessary junk in the frame. It’s just you, the white linens, and Fifth Avenue.
Don't Skip the Elevator Banks
This is a detail most people walk right past. Every guest floor features a unique mural painted by students from the New York High School for Art and Design. They tell different stories of the city—Times Square lights, subway romances, quiet park moments. If you’re building a photo dump of your trip, these murals add a layer of "local" texture that you won't get at the Marriott.
Beyond the Room: Where to Point the Lens
Once you leave the room, the lobby (or the "Lounge," as they call it) is basically a gallery. There’s an eight-foot-high white marble sculpture by Nick Hornby that looks like a modernist blob from one side but reveals six different silhouettes of the Midtown neighborhood as you walk around it.
The Kitchen area has an open-concept design. If you can snag a seat at the bar during breakfast, the light coming through the 5th Avenue windows hits the copper cookware and the steam from the coffee in a way that feels very "Main Character."
Practical Tips for Better Shots
- Turn off the room lights. The interior lights have a slight yellow tint. If you’re shooting the view at dusk, turn everything off inside. Let the blue hour from the street fill the room.
- Use the 0.5x lens. Because the ceilings are so high (12 feet!), a wide-angle lens is the only way to show the actual scale of the loft.
- Check the Courtyard. There’s a semi-hidden outdoor courtyard that’s great for mid-day portraits when the sun is too harsh on the street.
Is It Worth the Hype?
There are "fancier" hotels in New York. You could stay at the Ritz or the St. Regis. But those places feel like museums. The Andaz feels like the apartment you’d have if you were a millionaire living in 1920s Manhattan but with better Wi-Fi. The photos you take here feel lived-in. They have a certain "quiet luxury" that isn't trying too hard.
The fact that you get a free mini-bar (non-alcoholic, anyway) means you can even stage a little "hotel picnic" on the window sill with some chips and sparkling water while the library lions watch you. It's a vibe.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Stay
If you’re planning to book specifically for the visuals, call the hotel directly after you make your reservation. Ask for a "Library View" on a floor between 6 and 10. This is the "sweet spot" where the architecture of the library across the street is at eye level. If you're there for an anniversary, mention it—they’ve been known to leave little "I Love NYC" onesies or fruit baskets that make for great "welcome" photos. Lastly, make sure you hit the Bar Downstairs right when it opens at 4:00 PM to get the best light on the neon rose staircase before the crowds arrive.